By Anonymous Public Contributor
I am a public contributor who has been involved for about six years with many interesting research projects.
I volunteered to give my views to researchers, as, at the age of 75, I have experienced many problems relating to health and social issues. I am retired and have more time, which enables me to participate as a public contributor both online and at in-person meetings.
As both a person who suffers from multiple health conditions and a carer for two people who have complicated health problems, I have been able to contribute my opinions and views on different subjects. I hope my contribution has been helpful in shaping the research studies by responding to the questions posed by the researchers.
I think that public involvement is very important in order to give as wide a view as possible in research studies. Opinions from patients and carers from different ethnic, class, disability and cultural backgrounds may raise issues which researchers need to take into account.
For example, having a family member with liver problems, I was able to contribute to research which highlighted the prejudice the public has about liver transplants where the patient has a problem with alcohol. The researcher designed the study so that information which may have been difficult to include was obtained discreetly, as many patients and carers sometimes try to hide the problem.
By including relevant public contributors’ views and stories, such things as living with a colostomy bag or problems experienced with toileting situations are brought to the attention of researchers.
I am pleased that being involved as a public contributor has improved my IT skills and given me more confidence to speak at meetings.
I have seen researchers suddenly become aware at meetings, on hearing answers to their questions of areas of research which they had not previously thought about.
Call to action.
“Make your research results relevant to all by using PPI.”
